What does it take to be a 5."whatever" climber?

Post by **Wes** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:13 pm

512OW wrote:

True. I should have said rockclimber. I'm not a climber. I'm a rockclimber.

Then can't a person say I am a 5.11 steep sport rockclimber? Or a why not a 5.10-bolted-finger-crack-on-50-degree-partly-couldy-skies-when-mars-is-in-venus-one-hang rock climber?

Post by **Yasmeen** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:20 pm

What would be cool is if we printed up a bunch of "Hi! My Grade Is: ______" stickers and wore them to the crag. I think it would ease a lot of the tension that builds up as you fumble through small talk trying to get to the important information, like a person's highest send.

Post by **pigsteak** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:39 pm

Yas,
Rumor has it you print off everyone's tick list on here, and keep it in your pack anyway. why not just wave it in their face when they project your warmup, telling them "do you know who you are talking to?"

Post by **Yasmeen** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:46 pm

I like the way you think, pigsteak! You can be my first subject this weekend. If you could practice your teary-eyed-quivery-lipped face followed by a full-blown tantrum at the base of the route, it would really help with the drama.

Post by **the lurkist** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 3:58 pm

rule no. 5: if you never climb between your once a month trips to the gorge, you are not a climber.

I knew there was something wrong. I had processed that I had become a "has-been-never-was" climber, but now I have to become comfortable with the awful truth- that I am not even a climber any more, just a "has-been-never-was".
Woe is me.
Thanks for pointing that out Pig. You and your rules.... Damn!

Post by **wirednut** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:45 pm

There can be nothing more pathetic than being a "real climber".

Seriously, can you imagine spending most of your life hanging on to things by your fingertips, and believing your are doing something more important than farting in the wind?

Post by **spuzo** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:15 pm

I love this thread. I've laughed, I've cried, I've punched co-workers (wait, that's a lie, I work alone)....this is great.

Why not go even further...what does it take to be a "West Coast 5.whatever" climber... regionalize it.

YasMEAN....forget the ticklists in your pack, you should carry a PDA with you that has charted and cross referenced all climbers in the Red and what they have climbed, that way you can just whip it out and make sure that no one is climbing outside their box....Get back in your box!!!...although I do like your name tag idea...beats Joe's "So what kind of numbers are you looking for...?" question that he asks all people, so he can guide them in the right direction to the proper crag.

Whatever happened to climbing made you a climber. I climb, therefore I am a climber, it's simple grammatics. Now there are all these stringent requirements??? I don't own a Westie...but I have lived in my truck for more than a month...does that make me a climber? Or just someone who fucked up and didn't have a place to live for awhile??? hhmmmm I know a "5.12 climber" that doesn't own a rope or draws? Still a climber? Or not.....or just a frugal cheap bastard "climber"?

I love this thread.

Post by **pigsteak** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 5:46 pm

not a problem lurk....as a "has been", I bet you can tell stories that the REAL climbers of today can appreciate, and making sure they know that "back in the day"....things were different...

just remember, as you told Sprag,.."at least you try hard."

Post by **charbee13** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:55 pm

flash is seeing someone on it betaflash is seeing someone on it with info ie:u talk to them 1st

Post by **rjackson** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:35 pm

If you get verbal beta and know the rock can't you then visualize; 'seeing' someone on it?